Headlights

Unless you are going with HID replacements , don't waste your money on aftermarket bulbs. Tests in the last issue of Consumer Reports show that none of them perform significantly better than the OEM bulbs and some are worse.

Randy

Was thinking of either GE or Sylvaina types...good name brand

Unless you are going with HID replacements , don't waste your money on aftermarket bulbs. Tests in the last issue of Consumer Reports show that none of them perform significantly better than the OEM bulbs and some are worse. Randy ====================================== What you say I believe is pretty much true if you're swapping out a stock 55w, or 85w watt lamp/bulb, and just replacing it with another brand 55-85w bulb.

There might be a slight differerence in color, but doubtful there will be any significant increase in lumens, and the ability to see down the road.

With my own '97 Tahoe, the stock lights on this thing was horrible (And dangerous). In the big Metropolis, the stock lamps seemed sufficient, but once out on dark country roads, at 60mph, you always felt like you were outdriving your lights.

I upgraded when the vehicle was a little over a year old, to 2 pairs of PIAA Lamps/Bulbs (They weren't cheap), in which the output of these was said to be 85w/110w I believe (versus 55/85 stock)

While I felt I had somewhat better light output, I still was disappointed in the stock system, in that either one pair or the other (Hi-Low) would be lit, and not simultaneously.

I ordered a Hi-4 kit, and if memory serves me correctly, I think it was from performance products for $20. It made a world of difference, in that with both pairs of Lights on, the low beams seemed like they handled the job of lighting close, and to the front left, and front right sides of the vehicle, lighting the shoulders of the road, and the high beams then took care of the long distance down the road.

This IMO was a very worthy upgrade, and since I installed the kit have never had any trouble with it.

One other thing I did, was I did some minor adjustment-tweaking to the light's aim. They were a bit too low IMO, and were a bit cockeyed I felt right from the factory.

HID would most likely be the very best upgrade (provided it's a legal swap), and an expensive one also. The Hi-4 upgrade was a very cheap, and vast improvement over my stock configuration. Mark

I am sure the guy in the car in front of you really appreciates your raising the aim so he can be blinded by your headlamps.

Whitelightning

I am sure the guy in the car in front of you really appreciates your raising the aim so he can be blinded by your headlamps. Whitelightning ====================================== Honestly Whitelightning, this is not the case, and your insinuations are incorrect that I'm some sort of "Light Moron", and haven't taken this aspect into full consideration....

My lights were poorly aimed from the factory, and I took much careful time, and consideration when adjusting my lamps.

Trust me, I didn't just get out the tools, and haphazardly crank these babies to the sky.

Then a couple of years after this, I beefed/raised the ass end of my Tahoe with a pair of Firestone Ride-Rite Airbags, so again, I needed to slightly tweak my lamps one more time as they were a bit low again.

Since the mods/adjustments, I have never been flashed by oncoming traffic, nor feel that I've made my truck a nuisance on the road blinding other drivers, either oncoming, or in front of me. Mark

Well I have the idea cause I had to replace the head lights on the Envoy, and got some lights that were made by sylvia or GE dont recall any more, they had a blue tint to them, and a pack of 2 of them were as much as one of some others, change out was easy, lots easyer then her old taurus she drove, but when I drove it for the first time at night, I noticed a difference, and there is a way using the fog light swich you can get all 4 on at once, and talk about WOW, can see down the road, as I do live in the country, but dont drive the van much at night, but when i do I want the lights, going to look for the conversion kit for lights, btw think any auto parts stores carry them.???

Actually there are reasons why high and low beams don't operate at the same time. When travelling at highway speeds with the high beams, adding the low beams lights an area that is basically irellevant. The bright spot from the low beams distracts from seeing to the limits of the high beams.

Sure, it looks really bright, but all in the wrong place.

Actually there are reasons why high and low beams don't operate at the same time. When travelling at highway speeds with the high beams, adding the low beams lights an area that is basically irellevant. The bright spot from the low beams distracts from seeing to the limits of the high beams. Sure, it looks really bright, but all in the wrong place.

-------------------------------------------------------------- What you say makes some logical sense, but I personally haven't found the benefit of having all four beams operating while highway driving at night a distraction, or detriment at all.

With the better PIAA Lamps, (and careful alignment/aiming) I do see much better further down the road, and the benefit I feel I have gotten from also having the Low Beams on also, it that a wider swath/area is lit.

I notice a much better ability to see, and see a lot more when encountering curves, and turns, driving in mountainous areas, as I live in S New Mexico. I notice a much safer feeling having the ability to see more of the road, and shoulders. I'm not also concerned with seeing further down the road in front of me, but feel I have a much better advantage seeing critters like Deer, Coyotes, Antelope, etc better at night, who many times lurk off to the shoulders.

Perhaps as you say, with only the benefit/upgrade of a Hi-4 Kit, and not increasing candlepower of your Beams, there will be no benefit of seeing further down the road.

If I hold you to your philosophy, and let's say that "less is better", then a tiny pair of pencil beams would be better yet, no?

Please don't get me wrong here. Many vehicles made today DO come with adequate lighting straight from the factory. I'm not saying for everyone out there who owns a vehicle with 4 separate headlamps to rush out, and buy a Hi-4 Kit.

I honestly feel though that on my '97 Tahoe LT 4x4, this was one area that they could've done better on. The Lamp Housings themselves are not very big on these Tahoes, and the wattage output was IMO marginal, so the only way to supplement them without a very costly modification is with a slightly better, street legal lamp/Hi-4 kit. The other option would've been perhaps mounting a Brush Guard/Bar, and mouting auxilliary Lamps.

Every vehicle has its shortcomings, none are perfect in every regard. With this era of Tahoes/SUVs/Trucks, the other safety deficiencies were mushy, vague feeling, inadequate brakes.

I guess one cannot expect BMW-Mercedes performance, and quality for chevy prices.

The Brake upgrade was also another upgrade I performed on my Truck, with new Stillen Slotted Rotors, larger Stillen Front Calipers/Better Pads, and SS Brake lines throughout. It was a $1,000 upgrade at the time for the parts, but also feel this was worth it. Noticeably better when towing, and much less fade. Mark

I also own a 2001 Kia Spectra, which the 4 front Headlamps operate in a similar fashion to my '97 Tahoe, in that either one pair, or the other light at any given time.

Oddly enough though, this cheap little Kia has lamps that IMO are much more superior than what came on my Tahoe. This car really has the ability to very nicely light up the road at night.

I've never experienced how newer Chevy Truck's lights are, and I would suspect improvements have been made from the older body design like mine. Mark